Spotlight

There is something exciting about beginnings, like entering into a new relationship, starting a different job, moving to an unfamiliar town, getting the key to a freshly purchased house, or where we are finding ourselves right now—the beginning of a new year. What is it about beginnings that excite us so much? I think we all heard the expression “life is a journey.” We recognize that it is an adventure full of twists and turns, ups and downs, ebbs and flows, change, transformation, and growth that all contribute to our evolution as individuals, and ultimately, as humankind collectively. For some, the marking of the beginning of this journey is when we are born into this world in a physical body, and it ends when that physical body dies. Others embrace a more expanded view that includes the belief that we are each a spiritual being in a corporeal form on a temporary passage that is part of an infinite and eternal journey.

The benefits of eating more plants are undeniable, so much that more than half of the U.S. population is eating more plant-based foods due to perceived health benefits. Multiple studies have shown that eating a vegan diet can increase lifespan and lower the risk of many chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. This way of eating not only benefits human health but also supports animal welfare and the environment as it is much more sustainable than animal agriculture.

Let’s be honest, stigmatizing mom bodies is a deeply lived behavior in our modern society. There are some differences depending on a country and its culture, yet still, there is a huge market of “bouncing back”-offers to a struggling mom. It starts from all the different programs promising to get you a flat belly after childbirth to some magic cremes, oils, and waist trimmers. Especially as a new mom, it’s easy to get trapped in this mentality yourself. When you are in a body that you suddenly don’t recognize, and everything around you says that you should look and feel different by now, no wonder you might think that something is wrong with you or whether this is your new reality.

Ready or not, 2023 is here! Hopefully, you are ready and have thought of at least one outrageous goal that you’d like to achieve. Why outrageous? Why not? Now’s a perfect time. You have so much potential, so much going for you, so why not use it and see where it takes you? Is the thought of going all-in on such a goal holding you back because of a deeply-held fear that you might fail? To that I say, you will absolutely fail! If that sounded a bit harsh, when did we make failing such a bad thing? Anytime we start something new, there will be a refining process. Historically, accepting failure was very difficult for me because I took it as a personal hit. I’d say to myself, “Maybe this wasn’t the goal for me, I’ll never measure up, and I’m not good enough.”

In less than a week, I will be taking the stage as a comedian for the first time. My friends and family will probably tell you that it’s always been in me, but I never saw it. I was too busy playing things safe. Now others would tell you that jumping out of a plane, taking a 3-month solo trip to another country, writing a very vulnerable memoir, and delivering two TEDx talks isn’t exactly playing it safe – but to me, it was.